Last time I put up some tips for conservation efforts, I got a couple comments from people saying that they weren't going to change the way they were living, or how they wouldn't change until other people did as well. This really bothered me, for a number of reasons.
First of all, why does there have to be a large number of people doing something before you'll go and do it? That's like saying 'I'm not going to vote until half of the young population votes.' It's just stupid. The things I mention not only help reduce human impact on the environment, but also help save money. So why don't you do it? There's no harm that comes from it.
Second, how can we possibly make the world a better place for the next generation if we refuse to change our ways? I mean, I could go on and on about starving kids in Africa, and few people would care. But how about the fact that pregnant women have been told not to eat much fish, because our oceans and rivers are polluted with mercury?
Regardless of whether you believe in global warming or not (and don't turn this into an argument about global warming, please), why is it so bad for us to take measures to, say, improve our fuel economy? The oil isn't going to be there forever, so why should we continue using it like it is? Or make other efforts to eliminate CO2 emissions?
Solar and Wind power are some of the most useful renewable technologies we have out here in the West. If we can even partially reduce our dependence on coal (which many electric companies still burn to make electricity) or nuclear power (which, while efficient, leaves some pretty long-lasting waste), isn't that a good thing in the long run? If we can lessen the amount of electricity or water that each home in the US uses, why shouldn't we try?
And, as I mentioned before, many of these individual conservation efforts actually save you money. Yes, it's not feasible for everyone to grow their own vegetables or whatever. But replacing all your lights with fluorescent bulbs can save you something like $30 for each bulb over the cost of the bulb. Now, my room has two lamps, and I believe each of my roommates have two lamps. Plus, there's lights in the bathroom, shower, vanity, and kitchen, so we probably have about 40 bulbs in our apartment. That's $1200 over the course of three years, about. Pretty decent amount, if I do say so myself.
Checking for drafts around your windows and outlets can mean that your house (or apartment) stays cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter, because less of that heat/cool air is escaping. That means you don't have to run your air conditioner or heaters as long to stay comfortable. Which means your electric bill in these months is cut, sometimes by rather significant amounts.
I know a few grocery stores that are now giving you rebates for reusing your plastic bags. Safeway, I think, gives something like 4 cents back for every plastic bag you bring in. Sure, it's not much, but it could add up over time.
Refusing to do anything to help the environment is a dangerous road to go down. We want to survive on this planet for many more generations, and that won't be possible if we don't reduce the impact we're having on a global scale. So why not take the little steps now? If everyone did, we'd have a huge reduction on our impact as a whole.
The Kroger chain here does something similar. If you bring in your own bags, they take off 3 cents for each bag from your total purchase.
Great post dear!
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~Fallon~
“What is insanity, anyway? Is it when you scream and everyone else whispers, or is it when you fight for what's right, even when everyone else thinks your wrong?” Ethergoth
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I get 4 cents; sorry they're jipping you that extra penny. In 100 visits, you've lost a whole dollar!
I had something else, but oh well. I forgot.
Nicholas Aden
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There's one here that gives you a token for every bag that you bring. After you're done paying, you get to put that token into a container for a charity of your choice. For each token, 3 cents is donated to that charity. I think this was a great idea!
Find out everything you need to know about poop here:
http://progressiveu.org/000701-everything-you-need-know-about-poop
I like the fact that a lot more grocery stores are encouraging using cloth bags to reduce impact on the environment.
As far as reducing our dependence on oil and nuclear energy, that is a good question the government needs to ask. There are patents I am researching from the first world war that allowed TANKS to travel over 100 miles per gallon. (Imagine what it could do for our cars!) Once the war was over, the mechanical design was purchased and dissapeared.
Currently, a Formula One engineer designed a car that is powered by AIR. The only country to take interest and took the initiative to invest in the technology was India. Ask our government WHY they have not followed suit? Is it so much more convenient to pay hundreds of billions of dollars to Middle Eastern countries???
While the USA talks a good game.... not really.... China has outlawed, yes! outlawed, the use of plastic bags at grocery checkouts.
A simple step. Probably not going to change the world, but it does show that they are at least trying. What about a general agreement for men to stop wearing coats and ties to work? Wouldn't that be a an easy to implement first step? Heard anyone talking about that lately? Mostly it is the WAR in IRAQ!! OMG! Danger Will Robinson. Danger.
And BTW, as I am sure you know by now, the low wattage bulbs contain mercury so disposal is a problem. Easy solutions have long since been left in the dust. You, as the next generation, will be paying the bill for our profligacy.
Sorry. That's just the way it is. Good luck.
China also, as a law, requires all cars to have a fuel economy of at least... 35 mph, I believe. The US has no such law.
What does men wearing coats and ties have to do with this?
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
I've heard of the no suits and coats thing. It's slowly being implemented here, but it doesn't apply to our university because we never had a dress code to begin with. My feet love it! ;)
Find out everything you need to know about poop here:
http://progressiveu.org/000701-everything-you-need-know-about-poop
Sure hassling grocery baggers with using old plastic bags may help you feel effective in conservation and save you maybe 2 quarters off your purchase, but in the long run those bags will still likely be merely tossed in a garbage bin rather than recycled. The important aspect of minimizing impact on the planet is to treat things we create as either one of 2 things (both if possible) re-usable or recyclable. Things that are thrown away should be re-addressed as maybe things we should be trying to eliminate in this world? Containers, packaging, in-edible foods/wastes, ect. If we rethink the very sources of our trash, our trash minimizes, it is very simple.
Kyle
I totally agree with taking care of what we have. Conservation is key. Why ruin what we have. Take action. Be responsible for your actions. Do your part. When ever I go camping or hiking I always always take out my garbage and any that I find along the way. It keeps it nice for everyone if we just do a little bit.
What? No "Hero of the Day" award from Nicholas Aden? Does he even do those any more?
Anywho--nice rant...post...whatever you wanna call it. I wish the US would make some laws regarding conservation. There are regulations in other countries that would benefit us, so why can't we be more green? And yes, it is a more personal effort, but some of us do not have the resources available for some activities. Take recycling for example. As far as recycling goes in my town, it's probably giving leftovers to the dog. We burn our garbage because you have to pay for people to take it away. Recylcing is an alien bin in the corner of high school classrooms, not for home use.
Nick got lazy and discontinued the Hero of the Day award. He should be flogged.
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~Fallon~
“What is insanity, anyway? Is it when you scream and everyone else whispers, or is it when you fight for what's right, even when everyone else thinks your wrong?” Ethergoth
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It got hard finding a new hero everyday. I'll pick it up again sometime during the contest when I've got time to make the pretty certificates every day.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
Click to send Hate Mail
Choice Picks
Okay, it's understandable. Every day isn't necessarily Hero-worthy....
At least you haven't completely given up on it!
I think so too. I hope things do change, and so do so many others - but the problem is, a lot of us just hope, and don't act to do our part to help things change. We're busy with our own lives, true, but we can help in so many small ways that do mean something - and when enough of us do, we will achieve more than small change.